Comments

More Picks

FA Cup Semi-Final Picks & Tips for Wigan Athletic vs. Arsenal

Arsenal are the overwhelming favourites to
hoist the FA Cup this season and can surely look forward to ending their title
drought. But is it a foregone conclusion as soccer-betting markets suggest? Find out as we preview the
semi-final clash between Arsenal and Wigan.

Arsenal Top Favourites To Win OutrightFollowing Manchester City’s shock upset in
the quarterfinals, FA Cup odds went to
press and Arsenal emerged as the runaway favourites to win the title.
Indeed, the semi-finals are poised perfectly for tournament favourites Arsenal with
just Premier League bottom stragglers Hull City, defending champions Wigan
Athletic – now enjoying Championship football – and League One side Sheffield United
in the way of getting their eager hands on the trophy.

It’s really no surprise therefore, given
the field on hand, Arsenal have this
market cornered on -225 futures odds to win outright at Bet365. By that
same token, they are predictably favoured strongly to beat Wigan Athletic in
the semis this weekend at Wembley Stadium, tipped at -225 on the soccer odds board to win outright.

But soccer
bettors worth their salt know Arsenal notoriously flatter to deceive. Why
else is the infamous title drought 8 years, 10 months, 19 days and counting
long?

The scenario was similar in the 2010-2011 League Cup semi-final
instalment when Arsenal were drawn into a final four with Ipswich, West Ham and
Birmingham. Then the set up was just as perfect for Arsenal to end the long
wait for silverware. Yet, they made a right mess of it in the end, not that the
Birmingham Blues complained of course, seeing as they ended up popping the
bubbly.

Bringing up ancient history doesn’t mean Arsenal
aren’t credible favourites but rather it’s to demonstrate that they aren’t a sure soccer pick to win the competition
proper. Nor for that matter to advance into the finals at the expense of Wigan
Athletic, who are the defending champions mind. If there’s a lesson to be had:
it’s that they can’t take anything for granted, not even their lofty top-flight
credentials in the face of a widely acknowledged lightweight field. And soccer bettors would do well to take
heed.

Wigan Athletic shocked Man City in the
final last year, another occasion that was tipped a foregone conclusion in soccer-betting markets in favour of the
Citizens, naturally. And it clearly wasn’t a one-off as the Latics just backed
up that result with a second straight win over Man City in the competition,
dumping the highly favoured Sky Blues in the quarterfinals.

Last year’s Premier League drop out are
clearly punching above their weight class. They have advanced through this
competition with impressive form with four wins and a draw (their opening match
against Milton Keynes Dons went two legs – 3-3 draw before the Latics won 3-1
in Extra time in the second leg).

Sportsbooks however aren’t buying what they
are selling. Wigan Athletic ring in as the third favourites to win the
competition at +700 futures betting odds. As well, they are listed at +600 to
beat Arsenal at the weekend. Prompting the obvious question: are these odds a
true reflection of their FA Cup form or are they just a reflection of the place
they occupy in football hierarchy?

That said Arsenal have put forward a strong
case in their FA Cup bid by advancing at the expense of top opposition mainly.
They are through to the semis with four wins and two clean sheets – 2-0 over
Tottenham Hotspur and 4-0 over Coventry City. What’s more, they beat both
Liverpool (2-1) and Everton (4-1), Premier League counterparts that are
enjoying standout seasons.

Wigan
Athletic vs. Arsenal Match Betting Tips and PicksBy
virtue of their top-flight credentials, Arsenal warrant their favourable odds
to both win this competition and advance at the expense of the Latics. But
recent poor form, which has seen them bow out of Champions League R16 and not
only lose their grip on the Premier League title but also potentially on a top
four spot is a source of serious concern. At the very least, it should give the
Latics, who continue to defy the odds and punch above their weight class, a
feeling that they have a chance against the Gunners. One that is exceedingly
better than the odds makers would have you believe it is at +600 soccer odds to
win outright. Let’s not forget, Wigan beat Man City twice and if that isn’t
reason to consider them seriously what is?

Common wisdom suggests Arsenal are the safe soccer pick at -225. They have a
lot to prove and critics to silence so they could (should) very well rise to
the occasion. But the cautious optimist looking for the upset has to consider
tickling Wigan’s tempting odds of +600 on the off chance that they just might
mastermind yet another shocker.